Blood pressure, the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, and exposure to cadmium : a population study

in American Journal of Epidemiology (1991), 134(3), 257-267

In a population study conducted from 1985 to 1989 in Belgium, the authors investigated whether exposure to cadmium is associated with blood pressure elevation and with an increased prevalence of ... [more ▼]

In a population study conducted from 1985 to 1989 in Belgium, the authors investigated whether exposure to cadmium is associated with blood pressure elevation and with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. The participants, aged 20-88 years, constituted a random sample of the households living in two low exposure areas (n = 803) and two high exposure areas (n = 1,283). For each exposure level, a rural and an urban district were selected. The cadmium levels in blood (8.5 vs. 11.0 nmol/liter) and urine (7.2 vs. 8.7 nmol/24 hours) were significantly (p less than 0.001) raised in the two high exposure areas compared with the two low exposure areas (p less than 0.001). Systolic pressure was similar in both rural areas, but in the urban area with high exposure systolic pressure was 5 mmHg (p less than 0.001) higher than in the control town. Diastolic pressure was similar in the four districts and the same was true for the prevalence of hypertension and of other cardiovascular diseases. Adjustment of systolic pressure for blood and urinary cadmium did not remove the difference in systolic pressure between both urban areas, suggesting that it was not related to the cadmium burden on the environment. Further analyses in individual subjects showed that neither blood pressure nor the presence of cardiovascular diseases were significantly and positively correlated with blood and urinary cadmium. Thus, the present population study did not confirm the hypothesis that increased exposure of the population to cadmium is associated with blood pressure elevation and with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. [less ▲]

Blood receivers : another point of view - analysis of data from 5,463 patients transfused during 2011.

in Blood Transfusion (2013, February)

Blood vessel changes during pregnancy: a review.

in American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2006), 7(1), 65-9

The profound endocrine upheaval of pregnancy is frequently associated with changes in the function and structure of the blood and lymph microvasculature of the skin and mucosae. Palmar erythema is ... [more ▼]

The profound endocrine upheaval of pregnancy is frequently associated with changes in the function and structure of the blood and lymph microvasculature of the skin and mucosae. Palmar erythema is frequent but rarely severe and is associated with burning sensations. Spider telangiectasias develop in the majority of pregnant White women but are less often identified in women with darker skin. Hemangiomas and glomus tumors occur in one-third of women. A firm edema may develop on the face and extremities in the final months of pregnancy. Venous hypertension and varicosities of the lower limbs are common. Gingivitis, gum hypertrophy, and pyogenic granuloma are common in the oral cavity. The vaginal mucosa is also affected, showing a violaceous aspect, at times accompanied by varicosities of the vulva. Many gestational vascular changes regress spontaneously in the postpartum phase. Some vascular tumors may need to be treated with a vascular laser or intense pulsed light. [less ▲]

Blood-oxygen binding in healthy Standardbred horses

in Veterinary Journal (2005), 169(2), 251-256

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regulating factors on the oxygen equilibrium curve (OEC) under standard conditions and then to calculate the oxygen extraction between arterial and ... [more ▼]

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of regulating factors on the oxygen equilibrium curve (OEC) under standard conditions and then to calculate the oxygen extraction between arterial and jugular venous blood in healthy Standardbred horses. The results were compared to those previously obtained in humans and cattle, using the same experimental method. The partial oxygen pressure at 50% saturation of haemoglobin, measured under standard conditions (standard P50), was 24.8 +/- 2.0 (SD of mean) mm Hg. This value was similar to the cattle standard P50 (25.0 +/- 1.4 mm Hg, SD of mean) but lower than the human standard P50 (26.6 +/- 1.2 mmHg, SD of mean) previously reported using the same experimental method. The effects of regulating factors on the standard OEC were also determined, and a major effect of pH and temperature was noted. In contrast, partial carbon dioxide pressure played only a minor role in horses, compared to cattle and humans. No significant correlation was found between phosphate and chloride concentrations and standard P50. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [less ▲]

Bloodless liver transplantation: Experience with Jehovah's witnesses

in Transplant International (2007, September), 20(Supplement 2), 291812

A blooming jellyfish in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean

in Biology Letters (2010), 6

A long-term time series of plankton records collected by the continuous plankton recorder (CPR) Survey in the northeast Atlantic indicates an increased occurrence of Cnidaria since 2002. In the years 2007 ... [more ▼]

A long-term time series of plankton records collected by the continuous plankton recorder (CPR) Survey in the northeast Atlantic indicates an increased occurrence of Cnidaria since 2002. In the years 2007 and 2008, outbreaks of the warm-temperate scyphomedusa, Pelagia noctiluca, appeared in CPR samples between 45°N to 58°N and 1°W to 26°W. Knowing the biology of this species and its occurrence in the adjacent Mediterranean Sea, we suggest that P. noctiluca may be exploiting recent hydroclimatic changes in the northeast Atlantic to increase its extent and intensity of outbreaks. In pelagic ecosystems, Cnidaria can affect fish recruitment negatively. Since P. noctiluca is a highly venomous species, outbreaks can also be detrimental to aquaculture and make bathing waters unusable, thus having profound ecological and socio-economic consequences. [less ▲]

Blossom-Quad: a non-uniform quadrilateral mesh generator using a minimum cost perfect matching algorithm

in International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering (2012), 89

Blowout of Carotid Venous Patch Angioplasty

in Annals of Vascular Surgery (1991), 5(6), 542-5

Two cases of vein patch blowout were observed five and seven days after carotid bifurcation endarterectomy with patch angioplasty. Both patients died in spite of emergency reoperation. One patient ... [more ▼]

Two cases of vein patch blowout were observed five and seven days after carotid bifurcation endarterectomy with patch angioplasty. Both patients died in spite of emergency reoperation. One patient developed respiratory failure with subsequent fatal cardiac arrest seven days after reoperation; the other died of extensive hemispheric infarction on the fifth postoperative day. At reoperation both ruptures were found to be located in the middle of the patch whereas the suture lines were intact. Both patients were hypertensive. In the first case, an accessory saphenous vein retrieved from the calf had been the only venous material available for the patch, while the other patient had varicose veins in the contralateral leg. Pathology revealed central transmural tissue necrosis in one of the disrupted patches. A review of the literature regarding morphologic alterations of free vein grafts placed within the arterial circulation as well as hemodynamics in patched arterial segments may provide additional insight as to the inherent benefits and risks of vein patch angioplasty after carotid endarterectomy. When considering vein patch angioplasty, particular attention should be directed to the gross aspect of the vein to be used as well as to any antecedent history of phlebitis. [less ▲]

Blue light affects emotional processing in the hypothalamus in Seasonal Affective Disorder

in Journal of Sleep Research (2010), 19(Suppl. 2),

The blue man: an anusual happy end of a spontaneous rupture of a coronary artery

in European Journal of Cardio - Thoracic Surgery (2008), 34(6), 1265-1267

We reported the case of spontaneous rupture of a coronary artery. It was a 56-year-old man admitted for dyspnoea and anterior thoracic pain. The most striking feature on physical examination was the ... [more ▼]

We reported the case of spontaneous rupture of a coronary artery. It was a 56-year-old man admitted for dyspnoea and anterior thoracic pain. The most striking feature on physical examination was the marked cyanosis of his face, upper part of the thorax and the upper limb. The patient was haemodynamically unstable with tachycardia and hypotension. Cardiac tamponade was confirmed by echocardiography and computed tomography of the thorax. The patient was transferred for surgery. Emergency sternotomy revealed pericardial bloody effusion and a continuous bleeding around the posterior interventricular artery. No other per-operative findings could explain the haemopericardium. Haemostasis was obtained by a suture of the bleeding coronary artery. [less ▲]